Game counter



July 16, 1935.

A. w. PAYNE Er AL GAME COUNTER Filed March 30, 1934 Patented July v16V, 1935 UNITEDQSTATES.

PAT-ENT OFFICE; o

2,008,153 GAME COUNTER Arthur W'. Ivayne, Chicago, and Albert J. Matter,

yPark Ridge, l. v

Appiicaten Maren so, 1ee4,jseria1`N0; 718,238

12 olaims.- (c1. 27s- 148) This invention relates in Ageneral fto a counter preferably for keeping score of a number of `playersand having more .particular reference to a counter forcontract bridge.

An important object ofthe which are independently movable into any one ofa number of set positions as referred to a one of a number fof positions with .respect to a base member. v

A still "further object yof the invention.y is in the provision of a neat and attractive game' counjter, having compactly and easily movable scoring members to indicate any part of a game made by t Vthe `player'or his opponent Under a' variety of conditions.

A still further object of the invention 'is inthe provision of a'game counter comprising a number 25 eachother and having 'engaging notched means for' holding the members in any set p'ositionvwith respect to each other. A still further object of the invention is in the provision of a game counter having a plurality of Y yseparate parts made of lcompositionV material which fits closely and 'compactly together with a common mounting means for pressing them neatly `and compactly together.

3 e Other objects of the invention, will appearv hereinafter, the accompanying drawing illustratingla-preferred embodiment ofthe invention. In the drawing', Fig. 1 is a "side elevation ofja I "counter in accordance with Ythis invention; Fig. 2

i Vis a lcompositev viewoi the separate parts `of the counter, some oiV them being shovvnin section; Fig; 3 Vis a plan View of the'counter; Fig. fl isfa plan view of the base only; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail-*of the engaging notch and projection mean"s; Fig. 6 shows a lvariant pivot post jandga Washer in section; and Fig.`.7 is aplan view of `fthe washer. f

In operating a game `counterit is desirablefto have the counting member-s' individuallyv movof the opponents o r players 'can be separately kept. `"Inthe case of a `bridge score it isr necessary lonly to keep the scoreof-opponentsfusually designated We and they, and so vonly two 55 `counting members are `-shown in the presentdeinvention is in the provision oi anumber of counting members "of parts rotatable independently with respectto the width of the rheadr Vi to offset the postfrom 4scoresless'than a complete game, for which the score is one'hundred, but it shouldv be understood lthat this same counter or a similar one with dif-y ferent graduations maybe employed forkeeping able andV adjustable so that `the score orxtally y vice although a largernumber of counting mein-` bers icanbe included or Asimilarlyassembled if desired. o

'Referring now more .particularly to the drawing, a base lil andtwo counting members il and .5 I2 .are formed yof vany suitable material such as metal, nbre ora composition lsuch as bakelite and` they preferably t smoothly `or conform to .each-other toprovide a device which is pleasing appearance5 preferablyl regular inform, keither round or of symmetrical angular structure, the parts'preferably tapering A. or being reduced in size toward the top as'clearly showninFig. l.

The base'and countingv members 'are provided with registering'central perforations I3, 'I4 and .15 i5 adapting them to receive a `pivoting pos't'f9 `having an integral-cap .8, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, Land a spring-armed Washer i held in place by an upset or yriveted head f6, inwhich the extremities of the spring arms will press. the base and counting members .yieldingly together, or as shownby Fig. 2, a pivoting vpost I@ which has .a

.small flat head Il at onevend and is threaded at the other end to receive a 'nut or rounded cap i8.V The base le has a bottom recess 2i deeper than seat and enclose asprihg 23 which surroundsA the 30 post iii and when the vbase and members are assembled on the post the spring 23 is seated in the recess 2? which is closed vat the .top bythe -cap i8.

f Each of thecounting members l l and |72 has an 7 outer angular surface with flat portions 2-5 and 26 kconforming inshape butdiiering in "size forcon- ,taining numerals 21 .designating a. partial score, i the severaliat portions or spaces containing .all

of the possible scores,` in the `case of acontr'act Q bridge counter, less than the score of a complete rgame, for which each `side isl striving. For ra contractvbridge counter there are nine possible tracker other games. v v

VProjecting from the upper surface ofthe base le and of any oi the counting members except the top one are small radial knobs or ribs 3,0 preferably rounded at the 'topf'and adapted ,to .be

seatedL in .corresponding notches orjgrooves 3| vin f Ytl'1eedges ofthe next4 upper member. Instead of `55 having only one ridge 3B a plurality of them are provided and spaced apart at intervals so that when the counting members are moved for relative adjustment they will be even instead of uneven at one side which might cause the members to catch or bind and consequently to wear. in turning them for adjustment. It will be understood that the spring 23 presses the base and the counting members resiliently together between the head and the spring 23 so that a space is left in the top recess 22 permitting a movement of the counting members i l and I 2 along the post I6 as the members l! and l2 are raised by engagement of the ridges 'i and notches 3| in turning them for relative adjustment.

In the present device three ridges 3B are provided because the counting spaces are nine in number' and they may be spaced equally apart. A ridge for each notch 3l may be provided but it is not necessary; or a different number of ridges 3D might be provided and they need not be spaced equally apart but need only engage th notches 3i in the proper positions.

In the game of contract bridge there are four different conditions which are important. These are designated on the base as 33, neither vulnerable, 34, both vulnerable, 35, they vulnerable, and 36, We vulnerable. In the case of a counter which has nine sides these designations in order to register with the grooves 3| will not be exactly opposite but will be sufficiently so as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4, that they are easily kept apart so that by turning the counter upon the base i!) any one of these four conditions may be brought opposite the view of the player who is keeping the comit. For this type of counter and particularly for contract bridge it is intended that each player shall have his own counter. One of the counters, preferably the upper one, has a designation 3l they indicating that that one shall be used for the opponents score so there can be no question as to which score is meant.

In keeping the score each player Who has one of the counters simply adjusts the proper counting member in accordance with the scores as made by either pair of opponents and in accordance with the designation on the base as to whether either one or both of them are vulnerable. With this simple device it is therefore possible and convenient for each person to keep the most material part of the scoring in contract bridge clearly before him and the proximity and convenience of the device encourages him to keep and pay attention to any partial scores which either of the opponents may have which should be a material help and an important factor in his bidding.

The counting numerals may be indented, raised or painted upon the surface portions and the entire device may be painted or colored in one or more colors to present an attractive appearance. The cap IB is rounded or conforms otherwise to the outline of the device and preferably extends suflioiently above the uppermost counter to provide a suitable knob for lifting and handling the counter.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the size and number of the parts for similarly scoring other games but still embodying the prinoiples of this invention.

We claim:

l. A game counter having a base, a pair of members having a head at one end and a cap at the other end, and a spring mounted upon the post and pressing -the members resiliently together and the members turning independenly of the post.

2. A game counter having a base and a plurality of counting members with registering openings, a post extending freely through the openings with a head at one end and a cap at the other, a spring on the post for pressing the members and base together, and each member being separately adinstable on the post.

3. In a counter, a base member and a plurality of counting members, means for pivotally mcunting all of said members and pressing them yieldingly together, and corresponding notches and projections in and on the members for engaging them in any of a number of relatively adjusted counter positions, the yielding means permitting a movement of the counting members along the mounting means as they are turned to engage and disengage the notches and projections.

4. In c, counter, a base and counting members having registering perforations, a headed post upon which they are independently rotatable and a cap for the other end of the post, the top member having an enlarged recess to receive the end of the cap, and. a spring on the post between the cap and the top member and seated in the recess.

5. In a counter, a base and counting members having registering perforations, a pivot post upon which the members are freely and separately movable, a head at one end of the post and a. removable cap at the other, the base member having a bottom recess to receive the post head, and spring means between the cap and top member to draw up the post head in the recess.

6. In a counter, a base and counting members, means for mounting the members together for turning and axial adjustment with respect to each other, a plurality of counting notations on the exposed faces of the counting members, a notch in the lower edge of each counting member corresponding to each notation, a plurality of projections on the upper surface of the next lower member at angularly spaced apart distances to engage the notches and hold the counting member in any adjusted position Without tilting the member.

7. In a counter, a base having designations spaced apart indicating different game conditions, a plurality of counting members one upon the other and on the base, means resiliently mounting the members for rotative and axial movement, the members above the base having counting notations and notches in the lower edges corresponding thereto, the base and members below the top having radial projections to engage the notches, and the members being separately adjustable with respect to each other and to the base to move them to place any counting notations adjacent to any designation of different game conditions.

8. A game counter comprising a base with designations spaced about the periphery indicating game conditions of both parties, a pair of counters mounted upon the base to rotate independently, each counter having a number of counting notations for one of the opponents, and resilient mounting means pressing the counters and base together and permitting separate rotation of the parts to adjust either counting member with any of its counting notations with respect to any designation of the base, and to adjust the base With respect to any notation of either orl i both of the counters.

9. A contract bridge counter having a `base member with spaced designations thereon indieating a condition of one or both opponents, a pair of counters independently rotatable with respect to the base, means on the base and lower counter for engaging the counter member above it and retaining it in any one of a number of different counting positions'with respect to any of the designations on the base member.

10. A game counter `comprising a base, a plurality of counter members arrangedv one above the other upon the base, a common post upon which the members and base arerpivoted for free and separate movement, the post having a head and 'thebase having a `recess on the under side to receive the head, a cap for the upper end of the post y extending above the upper member and forming a knob for handling the counter.

11. A game counter comprising separate base and counting members, a common post upon which the members are pivoted, retaining means mounted upon the post having spring arms to engage the base for pressing the members yieldingly together.

12. A game counter comprising separate base and counting members, a common post upon Which they are pivoted, interengaging means on some of the members for retaining them in any one oa number of different counting positions, a cap at the topof the post, and a spring armed washer at the bottom of the post to press the members yieldingly together and yielding suiciently to release the interengaging means for rseparate adjustment of the members.

ARTHUR W. PAYNE. ALBERT J. MATTER. 

